The film tells a story about Chiron's journey as a black, gay man living in Liberty City being raised by a mother with a drug addiction.

In contrast to his character's struggles with race, class and sexual identity in the film, the 12-years-old Hibbert says he has no worries, and his plans for Sunday night are to "chill out, have fun, and pray," he said in an interview with NBC Miami.

Hibbert's classmate, Jaden Piner, plays his close friend in the movie — and in real life. "Yeah, that's like my best friend," Hibbert said.

“Moonlight” is nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Hibbert said he never acted in a film prior to this. "I got the audition from school, and I thought it was this little movie," he said. "But it turned out to be so big, and it's just amazing."

The rising star also said he hopes to run into another Oscar nominee this weekend: Denzel Washington.

As Hibbert continues to take on his big screen ambitions, he has a message for everyone back home: "My message to everyone here in Miami is stay humble and keep working hard, because you can get somewhere in life if you just keep working hard."